Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– On Monday, March 30, representatives from STANLEY Security came to Aquinas College to present the institution with a customized plaque to commemorate Aquinas as the recipient of $25,000 won in the "Together for Safer Schools" grant contest.

Based on online voting, Aquinas College was awarded a $25,000 grant for its second place finish in the small college category (under 7,000 students) of the contest. The grant money will be used to enhance the college’s current emergency response plan. Priorities include an opt-out mass notification system, additional emergency speakers, card access and cameras. Items will be prioritized to maximize the impact of the grant money.

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—The Kent Intermediate School District will continue screening its lone finalist for superintendent.

Monday, West Ottawa Schools Superintendent Tom Martin announced he is withdrawing his application for the job. Martin was one of two finalists for the position with Kent ISD.

In a statement released to WZZM 13 Monday, Martin said, “After talking with West Ottawa’s board president who urged me to stay and hearing the same support through numerous emails, notes and phone calls, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Kent ISD search. We have come so far in this district, and with the continued support of staff and community, we can and will build on that improvement for all of our students. College, career and life ready is a vision that’s becoming a reality, and I look forward to continue being a part of that success.”

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- As part of March is Reading Month, the leaders of WMU-Cooley Law School’s Children’s Law Society took time recently to read to three Sibley Elementary School kindergarten classes in Grand Rapids.

Besides reading to the children, WMU-Cooley students Demar L. Sheffey and Anthony Courtney gave each child their own book to take home, along with a notebook and pencil to practice their writing.

Sheffey recently helped revive the Children’s Law Society at WMU-Cooley because he was angry about the state of literacy in Grand Rapids public schools. He remembered when he couldn’t move to the fourth grade because his reading skills needed improvement. Like his third grade teacher who helped him, Sheffey wanted to help current school children.

“No one gave me a book at that age,” Sheffey said. “But if I take the time to show these kids that reading is fun and help provide the tools they need to learn, then hopefully they will keep up in school.”

Emily and Alysabeth both look to their fathers as their inspirational Michigan heroes. Emily wrote, “From before I could walk, my dad has been shaping my whole life.” Alysabeth also recognized the impact her father has had on her: “My father has impacted me in unexplainable ways. He has taught me to love, fight for what I believe, and be strong.”

KENT COUNTY, Mich.--- The Kent Intermediate School District is throwing its support behind a sales tax hike to fix Michigan’s roads and provide additional funding for schools and local governments.

Thursday, March 19, the Kent ISD Board approved a resolution in support of Proposal 1, which will be on the May 5 ballot. In the resolution, the Board said Michigan ranks last in the nation in transportation spending per person. The Board also noted money being siphoned from the School Aid Fund to higher education, since the previous sales tax proposal generating funding for schools did not include colleges and universities.

The 2015 César Chávez Commemorative Lecture aims to highlight the struggles associated with the undocumented experience in the U.S. César Chávez was a humanitarian and social justice advocate who fought for the rights of migrant workers, a vulnerable population in the United States.

OKEMOS, Mich.-- As families continue to seek school options featuring greater flexibility and control for their children’s education, one of Michigan’s statewide virtual schools – Michigan Connections Academy – has scheduled a variety of information events throughout March.

Interested families are encouraged to attend upcoming events to learn more about how virtual learning works, meet teachers and familiarize themselves with the schools’ award-winning curriculum.